Schipperke care: MPS IIIB testing, teeth and shedding

The single most useful thing to know before buying a Schipperke is its MPS IIIB status. This inherited, fatal nerve disease is caused by one known mutation, a DNA test finds it, and a pup cannot be affected unless both of its parents carry it. Beyond that, the breed is small, long-lived and busy, and most of its care is about teeth, a heavy seasonal shed, weight, and a dog that likes to get out of the yard.

The American Kennel Club breed profile calls the Schipperke Belgium's "little captain", the traditional barge dog of the Low Countries. Adults stand 25 to 33 cm (10 to 13 in) at the shoulder, weigh 4.5 to 7 kg (10 to 16 lb), and have a life expectancy of 12 to 16 years.

Inherited conditions and screening

MPS IIIB

Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB is a lysosomal storage disease. Affected dogs lack enough of the enzyme alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase, so a complex sugar called heparan sulfate builds up in cells, including nerve cells. When the disease was first described, two 3-year-old Schipperkes were examined for tremors and episodes of stumbling. Both had signs of cerebellar disease, including a wide-based stance, swaying and uncoordinated hind legs, and both were euthanized as they deteriorated. The AKC notes that the disease usually shows up by 2 to 4 years of age as balance problems. There is no treatment.

The disease is recessive. A 2020 study identified the causative insertion in the NAGLU gene: dogs with two copies were affected, and dogs with one copy were healthy carriers. Of 3,219 Schipperkes genotyped between 2003 and 2019, 1.5% had two copies and 23.6% were carriers, and both numbers fell rapidly over that period. A dog can look entirely normal and still pass the mutation on, so the paperwork matters more than the parents' appearance. Ask to see the result for both parents.

Knees, hips, eyes and thyroid

The AKC lists the other problems that occasionally occur in the breed: slipping kneecaps (luxating patellas), Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease of the hip, eye problems including hereditary cataracts, and thyroid disease. Its recommended screening for breeding dogs is a patella evaluation, a hip evaluation, an eye examination by a veterinary ophthalmologist and a thyroid evaluation. A puppy or young dog that starts to limp or hold up a hind leg should be seen by a vet rather than rested and watched.

Epilepsy is another health concern the AKC names for Schipperkes. A dog that has a seizure needs a veterinary workup to look for other causes first.

Diabetes

Laboratory data from Norway point to a risk that breed summaries rarely mention. A study of blood samples submitted between 2001 and 2018 placed the Schipperke among the four breeds at highest risk of diabetes mellitus, alongside the Australian Terrier, Swedish Lapphund and Samoyed. In dogs, diabetes is thought to arise mainly from immune destruction of the insulin-producing cells, so it is not simply the result of overfeeding. Watch for a dog that drinks and urinates much more than usual, or loses weight while eating well, and have a vet check blood and urine glucose if either appears.

Teeth and gums

Periodontal disease is close to universal in adult dogs. In a 2026 study of 369 dogs examined under anesthesia, 98.6% of dogs over a year old had some degree of it, and smaller dogs were missing more teeth.

• Brushing removes plaque before it hardens into tartar. Daily is best, and a soft brush with dog toothpaste is enough. Human toothpaste is not meant to be swallowed.
• Dental chews and diets vary widely. Products carrying the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal have trial data showing less plaque or tartar. Choose sizes meant for small dogs.
• Sticky treats cling to the teeth. Firm, plain treats are a better choice.
• A dental check at every annual visit, with cleaning and X-rays under anesthesia when the vet finds tartar, gum inflammation or a painful tooth.

Coat, shedding and hair loss

The Schipperke has a thick double coat. The AKC says the coat needs only weekly brushing, but the dog goes through a shedding season once or twice a year when more frequent brushing keeps the loose hair under control. During a full shed a Schipperke can look thin-coated and patchy for a while.

A normal shed is not the same as a hair-loss disorder, and the breed has one of those too. A study of eight affected Schipperkes described hair loss on both sides of the body in the same pattern, which was preceded by the coat turning lighter and was not accompanied by any sign of illness. The condition is presumed to be Alopecia X. The affected dogs' routine bloodwork and thyroid tests were normal. A Schipperke whose black coat fades and then thins symmetrically, or whose hair does not grow back after a shed, should see a vet so thyroid disease and other causes can be ruled out.

Diet affects the coat mainly through deficiency. A complete and balanced commercial food supplies the protein, fatty acids, zinc and B vitamins the skin and hair need, and supplements are rarely helpful unless a vet has found a specific problem.

Exercise and escaping

The AKC describes Schipperkes as very active, energetic, busy little dogs whose exercise needs are met by a brisk daily walk or a run in a fenced yard. They have an instinctive urge to go exploring and an independent streak. That combination produces a dog that finds gaps in fences and does not always come back when called.

• Keep the dog on a leash anywhere that is not securely fenced, as the AKC advises.
• Teach a recall early, starting in puppyhood, and keep practicing it for life.
• Check the fence line for gaps, loose boards and places where the dog could dig under or climb.
• Give the dog a job for its brain, such as food puzzles, scent games and short training sessions. Schipperkes can do well in obedience and agility.

Schipperkes are watchdogs by instinct and can become barkers if not taught otherwise, the AKC notes. It also recommends obedience classes for the breed.

Calories and feeding

No study has measured energy needs in the breed, so feeding starts from the general formulas in the Merck Veterinary Manual. Resting energy requirement (RER), in kcal per day, is 70 multiplied by body weight in kilograms raised to the power 0.75. An intact adult dog needs about 1.8 times RER, a neutered adult 1.6 times, and an adult that gains weight easily 1.4 times. Rounded to the nearest 5 kcal:

Puppies need about 3 times RER, dropping to 2 times RER after four months of age. A 2 kg puppy under four months works out at about 355 kcal a day, and a 4 kg puppy over four months at about 395 kcal.

Merck notes that animals of the same weight can differ by as much as 30% in the calories they need, so the table is a starting point. Feed a food labeled complete and balanced for the dog's life stage, weigh portions on a kitchen scale, and split the day's food into two meals. Weigh the dog every month or so. Ribs should be easy to feel without being visible, with a waist seen from above. As activity falls with age, portions usually have to come down to hold that shape.

Itchy skin, recurrent ear infections or hot spots can have many causes, food allergy among them. If a vet suspects food, the test is a strict elimination diet for several weeks, not a switch to a grain-free or boutique food.

Sources

1. Schipperke dog breed information. American Kennel Club.
2. A model of mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB (Sanfilippo syndrome type IIIB): N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosaminidase deficiency in Schipperke dogs. Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease, 2003.
3. An exonic insertion in the NAGLU gene causing Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB in Schipperke dogs. Scientific Reports, 2020.
4. Breed distributions for diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism in Norwegian dogs. Canine Medicine and Genetics, 2022.
5. Oral examination in a random anesthetized canine population for the prevalence of periodontal disease and fractured teeth. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 2026.
6. Description and characterization of a hair coat disorder in schipperkes. Veterinary Dermatology, 2019.
7. Nutritional requirements of small animals. Merck Veterinary Manual.